BOY SCOUTS OF MICHIGAN 



thousand boys, marshalled be in the service before the coming on 



into thirty companies of Forest of the dry season. 



Scouts, with the motto, "Keep the The first company was organized at 



Right Trail," are now watching, with Oscoda with Oscar Swanson, aged 16 



trained eyes, throughout the State of years, as captain. That company has 



Michigan for forest fires, and are pre- already been hard at work and is an 



pared, when any break out, to lend their efficient fire-fighting organization. J. 



aid in fighting them. They are under H. McGillivray has been appointed 



the banner of Michigan Forest Scouts supervisor in the field and is traveling 



are learned in woodcraft, know how to all about the northern part of the State 



fight forest fires and are of valuable organizing companies and telling the 



service in preventing fires. boys and their parents the purposes of 



Michigan is the first State to put the the organization. The forestry de- 

 Boy Scout movement to a practical test partment of the Michigan Agricultural 

 in this manner. college has offered Mr. Oates the serv- 



The suggestion came from Governor ices of its classes in the summer to be 



Chase S. Osborn. Early in his admin- camp supervisors in charge of com- 



istration he suggested that the Boy panics of scouts, and the big lumber 



Scout movement in general amounts to men and timber men from all over 



but little except a pastime for the Michigan as well as the department of 



youngsters. He suggested at the same education are lending every assistance 



time that the movement could be turned to the work to make it a big success, 



to practical advantage to the State and A pamphlet has been issued which tells 



to the boys themselves. He proposed the purposes of the organization and 



the organization of the Michigan For- includes a manual and general informa- 



est Scouts, composed of the boys of tion as to the duties of the scouts and 



every school district in the State. He best methods of combatting fire, 



proposed that they should be organized It is not the purpose of the organiza- 



into companies under officers of their tion that any boy shall risk his life in 



own selection and working in connec- fighting fire. He is rather to be the 



tion with and under the direction of the courier who shall notify the fire warden 



Michigan State game and fish and for- in his immediate vicinity of the out- 



est warden's department become of break of a fire and give such informa- 



practical service in preventing the for- tion as may be useful in locating it and 



est fires which have annually devastated fighting it. However, if a small blaze 



the State. is discovered and the company of 



The suggestion was made to William scouts puts it out, that redounds to the 



R. Oates, the game, fish and forest credit of the company, and medals 



warden of the State, and C. A. Palmer, given by the State are rewards to each 



the State fire marshal. They imme- scout who does efficient service, 

 diately seized the idea and Mr. Oates 



has now organized the service, which BECOME LOVERS OF NATURE. 



is already an important and unique But the scope of the organization is 



factor in the affairs of the State. wide. It is not confined to fighting 



At this time companies have been or- fires alone. The object as laid down 



ganized in Harrisonville, Oscoda, Al- in the manual says : 



pena, Onaway, Cheboygan and the Soo. "The primary, economic object of 



Five hundred boys between the ages of this organization shall be the protection 



9 and 19 years are already enrolled, of frontier life and property, and 



Other companies are being organized reforestation. Its moral object the de- 



as rapidly as possible and 2,000 will velopment of health, chivalry and ap- 



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